TRENTON, NJ – On September 7, a Superior Court ruling mandated 24 defendants to halt illegal waste dumping activities across 15 locations in New Jersey, impose restoration measures, and pay over $8 million in penalties. The court’s action follows a lawsuit filed in April by the New Jersey Attorney General and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) against 25 individual and corporate defendants for illegally dumping waste.
The defendants were found to have dumped a variety of waste materials, including construction debris, plastics, metals, and vehicle parts on private properties without the owners’ consent. In some instances, homeowners were misled by “clean” or “free” soil advertisements on Facebook Marketplace. The largest penalty, amounting to nearly $4.7 million, was levied against Walter Miranda-Vicuna, Mirian L. Miranda, Bryan Miranda, and their associated companies, including MJSons Excavating, LLC and MJ & Sons Contractors Trucking, LLC.
According to Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the court’s ruling sends a clear message that illegal waste operations will face severe penalties. Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette of the DEP emphasized that the department will not tolerate illegal dumping and will actively pursue violators.
The epicenter of the illegal dumping operation was located on East Bigelow Street in Newark. Montgomery was also identified as a significantly affected community, particularly surrounding protected farmland. Other affected locations include Woolwich, Lafayette, Delaware Township, Alexandria, Southampton, Hamilton, Pohatcong, Bedminster, Liberty Township, Pittstown, and Readington.
Residents are urged to exercise caution when encountering “clean” or “free” soil offers, as such materials might contain hazardous contaminants. For guidelines on how to protect against illegal dumping, the public is advised to visit the DEP’s website.